cardiac failure? scared stiff

[warney26]

I have had two chest xrays, a  couple of weeks apart,  that showed pulmonary plethora. I was in hospital at the time and no one said anything to me. When discharged I was given a discharge summary and told to follow up with my family doctor within 7 days. I was reading the discharge summary and it said that both xrays showed "pulmonary plethora" The hospital doctor had then written "suggestive of background cardiac failure" and suggested cardiology follow up.  I was not in hospital for anything to do with my heart.  To my knowledge I have had no problems with my heart. I get fluttery feelings at times that are a bit anxiety provoking and my pulse is a little  fast (I think) , even on resting, usually about 90 but when walking at a normal pace, much higher, but have never had chest pains.  have had a few pulmonary embolisms, so on lifelong warfarin but I would think that is not related to any heart problem.  My  family doctor is sending me for another chest xray.  
I am really anxious about the whole thing, I do have a lot of medical issues (kidneys and thyroid) but thought my heart was great!!!  There is something though that I wanted to find out if was perhaps a sign of "background cardiac failure". My blood pressure is , at times, a healthy 110/70, but there have been many many times it has been dangerously low ie down to about 70/40 and the hospital has desperately tried to get it up via massive amounts of intravenous fluids and even a special iv thing called gelafusion. I have been even in intensive care with bp of 60/40 for several days. No one has ever explained to me why this would happen?   Its not a one off, it has been on many occasions. I remember once when in icu for low bp, they did have to give me something for my heart, but I was in a bit of a daze and don't remember what they said.   It isn't that it drops when standing ie its not postural, in fact worsens when lying down.
Is there any relationship here between the findings of pulmonary plethora and this?   The only other thing I can think of that may or may not be a link here, is that I have the worst vein access from hell. It is so bad that vascular surgeons had to create an artificial, permanent access point in my leg, an av fistula graft.  I have never ever been a drug user but have had a lot of vein access for kidney problems ie cannulas
To sum up, are the three in any way linked or suggestive of cardiac problems? ie the frequent  low bp, the vein access from hell, and the pulmonary plethora???? When I read those words "suggestive of background cardiac failure" I nearly had a heart attack - pardon the pun!!!!

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

Please keep us updated on your progress.  We can all learn from each others' experiences and support one another.

All the best,

[warney26]

I have never had heart checked for anything so I don't know. I do know that my granddaughter was born with a hole in the heart that did not heal properly and she now has a condition called left ventricular outflow obstruction, could there be a genetic element here? I don't know. I do have a stent in the SVC, don't ask me to remember what that stands for, it is the major vein leading to the heart, right up the very top of my chest, superior venous something??? cant remember what the C stood for. That was due to a blood clot blocking it and it collapsed, was told if hadn't been unblocked would not have lasted 24 hours! but that's not a shunt

[warney26]

thanks for all your comments. I was upset that I hadn't been told and just read it on a discharge summary. I do have thyroid problems, multiple hot nodules that are over active, so hyper at times, plus a very large 20mm cold nodule which is waiting biopsy. I see the surgeon tomorrow to organise that and I see an endocrinologist Monday. I feel like all this is happening at once and feeling overwhelmed right now.  Can this effect the heart?  Im at a loss. I know the thyroid has had a bad impact on all my joints from head to toe, had a full bone scan two weeks ago which showed that.  Was suggested the cause of joint damage could be thyroid. God I feel like its all crashing down right now. I also have moderate ckd, Im sure it must all be related somehow! how can one person have so much going on and not be a relationship?  I have always looked after myself

[ed34]

You say you have thyroid issues and this could be the culprit. Perhaps a fresh blood screening to see if this is in order. I have to ask the obvious though, does your heart have a shunt? i.e. do you have a hole in the heart?

[Jerry_NJ]

I believe a condition indication pulmonary plethora must be reviewed by a Pulmonary (not Cardiologist) specialty, I believe.

It "boggles" my mind that your hospital staff let this X-Ray result go with such a minor concern.  I believe (hospital experience in the USA) that the lack of follow through by your hospital should be brought to the attention of whatever governmental oversight exists.   All my hospital experience has included a full discussion of what was found and all actions needed, and in the case of an X-Ray done on my wife she immediately, by the hospital, put in contact with a female specialist to look further as a troubling result from the X-Ray.  In her case the ER doctor told us he was concerned about cancer in the uterus, he was right.  With the fast/full engagement of the hospital my wife underwent surgery within a few weeks.

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

I won't be able to answer your questions, and I am sure that one of the more experienced Members will come along very shortly and do their magic.

I just wanted to let you know that I was shocked to read how your treating Doctor and nursing staff neglect to tell you about the findings on the xrays!  You definitely need to make an appointment with a Cardiologist and take all relevant reports and xrays with you.

All the best and please keep us updated as we'll be worried about you.